Self-adjusting guard-rail clamp



c. A. PSILANUER.

SELF ADJUSHNG GUARD RAIL CLAMP.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 7. 1920..

'1 ,414,708, Patented May 2, 1922;

avwaw loz EAS'ION, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 NILLIAM INCORPORATED, OF EASTON, EENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CHARLES A. PsILANpER, or

wEAaToN, JiR.- & COMPANY,

"rarer SELF-ADJUSTING GUARD-RAIL CLAlvIP.

Application filed. April 7,

T 0 all whomz'il may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. PVLVSILANDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented, certain'new and useful Improvements in, Self- Adjusting Guard-Rail Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

. The effectiveness of a guardrail clamp is largely dependent upon its bearing connections with the rails/If the clamp and its accessories have manufacturing faults which preclude a proper surface contact it frequently happens that under vert1cal displacement of the rails, as is possible through a worn blind driver or worn. running rail, the resultant movement of, the clamp tends tov spread the latter due to an angular displacement of the spacing blocks, or of the wedge, or of both. .Thiscondition manrfestly prevents proper co-operation of the clanipand rails and not only imposes an undesirable strain on the clamp, but materially interferes with its clamping action.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for compensatingfor manu which with the rail, of any usual or preferred type,

being here shown as a member 1, adapted to underlie the running rail 2 and guard-rail 3. One terminal 4 of theclamp is adapted to engage the web of the guard-rail and interfit with the head and flange of such rail. The usual spacing blocks 5 are ar- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922.

1920. Serial No. 371,819.

ranged between the running rail and guard rail, such blocks being preferably of' the usual wedge block type shaped to interfit and maintain a square bearing with the rails. i

Under this arrangement,the co-operation of the running rail and guard-rail with the clamp has been along straight bearing lines,

and such'are also maintained between the spacer blocks and the rails. Under any strain tending to a vert1cal displacement of l the rails,"this straight-line bearing junction between the clamp and rails, and between the spacer blocks and rails is interrupted, and a displacement of the-upper and lower portions of such parts relative to the rails results. This tilting at once interferes with the proper bearing or clamping action and the effectiveness of the clamp is largely v nullified. Moreover, this position of the partstends to an unusual and severe strain on the clamp, with a liability to breakage.

The present invention overcomesithis' difliculty or deficiency by so form'ing'whatmay be termed the bearing end of the clamp that I it is capable of self-adjustment under the conditions described, and by such self-adjustment compensate for conditions largely due to manufacturing faults. Accordlngly,

I: make the co-acting faces 7 of the clamp and of the wedge-block 6 cylindrical on a radius determined by the possible movement of the clamp under the displacement to'be guarded against. With such provision, under the tilting of angular positions resultant from such displacement or strain,

the clamp will shift on such cylindrical bearing and the parts will assumetheir normal usual tongue 8 accommodated in a somewhat enlarged recess 9 in the clamp end, the

usual holding means 10 engaging such tongue to hold the wedge-block 6 in adjusted position relative to the clamp.

Theterm accessories as employed in the claims refers to the filler or spacing blocks and the wedge block.

and means for compensatingfor manufacturing faults in the clamp and its accessories and responsive to changing directions of bodilymovement under stress tending to angular displacement of the partsto thereby 3 stress to restore the straightline bearing re lation of the parts.

2. The combination of a running rail, a

guard rail, a yoke clamp and its accessories,

and means responsive to abnormal direc-v tions of stress in the assembly for minimizing spreading of the clamp and enabling the latter to automatically adjust itselfin'order to maintain the straight line bearing rela tion of the parts.- v

3; The combination'of a running rail, a

h 'uard rail a oke clam and its accessories and means co-operating With the clamp and responsive to abnormal stress to permit the clamp to automatically adjust itself, said means compensating for the relative movement of the parts Without materially interfering with the clamping action.

4:. The combination ofa running rail, a guard rail, a yoke clamp and its accessories and means for maintaining the straight line bearing positions of the parts, said means including a self-centering Wedgeat one end of theiclamp;

5. The combination of a running rail, a

guard rail, a yoke clamp and its accessories, and means for mamtammg thestraight line f bearing relation of the parts, said means in eluding a'self-centering Wedge afforded 6. The combination ofa running rail; a

guard rail, a filling, and-means forclampmg sa d elements and capable oiautomatic relieve itself of such stress and to restore the normal bearing relation of the parts.

7 The combination of a running rail, a

guard rail, a filling, and self-adjusting, clamping means capable of bodily movement guard rail, spacing blocks, and a yoke clamp,

and a self-centering Wedge afforded a bearing Within the confines of the clamp, the.c0'-' acting faces of the Wedge and clamp being curved to admit of compensating movement of the clamp m response to abnormal direction of stress. 7 7 7 9. A self-adjusting clamp forspaced rails,

embodying a yoke having a self-centering wedge block afforded a bearing-inone of the 1 Wings thereof, the co-acting faces of the block andclamp being curved whereby they are capable of relative compensating move 7 V In testimonywhereofl afiix my signature, i

' H E -Vl V-STLANDERJT ment. 

